HUSS GAVE HIMSELF TO THE CHURCH.
By Moravian
"CHRIST loved the church, and gave Himself for it" is the striking expression found in Eph. 5:25. Jesus gave Himself vicariously and sacrificially for the life and salvation of the souls which constitute His church. By means of that inexpressible Gift, the church was to become cleansed, sanctified, glorious, without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish. In this sense and for this purpose, no second one can give himself for the church. The sacrifice of Christ was "once for all." But while Jesus gave Himself for the church, others can and should give themselves to the church. Through the efforts of the church, the work of cleansing and sanctifying humanity, begun by Christ, must be continued. "Even as the Father sent Me into the world, so send I you." Giving oneself to the church amounts to the same thing as giving oneself to God. He is the Head of the church, which is His body. Ecclesiastical history tells us of a number of men and women who most literally and gloriously gave themselves to the church of Christ. No one did so more unreservedly than John Huss, the illustrious instrument in God's hand, for the founding of our [Moravian] church. He is uppermost in our minds at this time, because July 6 is the four hundred and ninetieth anniversary of his martyrdom. He gave himself to the church of God by consecration. All the powers of intellect, of emotion, of will and energy; all his gifts and graces; all his time and energy, were dedicated to the church for God's glory. And his abilities were not small. Tho a peasant's son, he enjoyed every educational advantage. Only two years after graduating from the University of Prague, he was made a professor at his alma mater, then dean of the Philosophical Faculty, and finally rector of the University. He was a litterateur of great merit. His improvement of the Bohemian language was permanent; his writings remain classics to the present day. That he was a gifted orator is proved by his extraordinary success in the pulpit. Such a man could have won a name and fame in the educational world, but he gave himself to the church. His energy was irresistible. He was not a reed shaken with the wind. Strength of will and of purpose was his, and iron determination. Disappointment and opposition only made him more unyielding. That energy would have crowned with success any effort at personal enrichment, had he chosen some commercial pursuit, but he gave himself to the church. He gave himself to the church for his own individual soul-culture and for the edification of hearts longing for the light of truth and the love of God. In those dark days a corrupt clergy gave to members of the body of Christ no pastoral oversight, no thorough religious instruction, to the disconsolate and sad no sympathy and comfort. The heart of Huss burned within him for the sheep without a shepherd, and longed to break for them the Bread of life. His careful and enthusiastic study of the Bible enabled him fully to realize the twin purpose of dedication. His views became more and more evangelical, tho reared in Romish error. "As regards the Bible, its divine origin, power and sufficiency, and the fact that it has been given for the salvation of man captivated his whole heart." Because his own heart was filled with divine grace, his ministry in the Bethlehem Chapel at Prague was unusually acceptable to the people. He preached the simple Word of God so simply, that even the simple could understand. Very powerful was his rebuke of sin; most tender his testimony to the grace of God; most solemn his plea for the conversion of the sinner. And the Word of God did not return void. The unction of the Holy Spirit rested upon it; souls were saved, and an evangelical movement started which remains to this day, and exerts a powerful influence for good. Huss also gave himself to the church by immolation. Even as the Master, after His public ministry as teacher and example, entered upon His passion as the Lamb of God, so also Huss, His servant, "followed His steps." The stormy academic debates at the university over the writings of Wycliffe were soon followed by personal persecution. His reformatory work, his scathing attack upon the priests,—reminding us of the Master's denunciation of the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees,—his bold denunciation of the shameful traffic in papal indulgences, brought upon him the violent hatred of the so-called "holy father" and all his minions. Various efforts to excommunicate him failed, because of the support of powerful nobles in Bohemia. Finally, however, Rome employed the most powerful weapon it possessed in those days—a weapon which largely has fallen out of its grasp—the terrible interdict. The whole city of Prague was interdicted as long as it would harbor the arch-heretic. In order not to cause suffering to the entire town, Huss went into voluntary exile. He preached in forest and field, and devoted much time to literary work. His horrible sufferings during the weary months of the Council of Constance, in filthy subterranean holes and in cold cells perched upon the top of towers, no pen can depict. A recantation would have been hailed with delight by his persecutors, and would have saved him from persecution instantly. But his love for Christ and the church impelled him to remain faithful even unto death. He died on the 6th of July, 1415.13May this noble example impel us to consecrate ourselves to God and His church, even to the point of sacrifice. More aggressive prosecution of the work in that field. A commission of twenty-five ministers and laymen have been appointed to make arrangements for a suitable jubilee celebration somewhere in the United States in the autumn of 1906. As the interest of one mission field is, or should be, the interest of all, it is thought that the general agitation of this movement will awaken a more intense missionary interest for the entire world.